Coin-roll storing machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a coin-roll storing machine which can reduce the dimension in the width direction and facilitate to ensure the installation space, as compared with those of a type including a plurality of coin-roll storing portions each adapted to put the coin-roll on the bottom face such that the axis of each coin-roll package extends in the horizontal width direction. In one aspect, a coin-roll storing machine  1  includes a storing main body  1   a , and three coin-roll drawers  11, 12, 13 , respectively provided such that they can be drawn out relative to the storing main body  1   a . In the respective coin-roll drawers  11, 12, 13 , a plurality of coin-roll storing portion  14  are provided, each for storing coin-roll B, with each axis of the coin-roll B being oriented in the vertical direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to coin-roll (a roll of coins) storingmachine for storing coin-roll (bar-shaped predetermined number ofstacked coins, e.g. each roll made by wrapping the same kind of coinsinto a package), in respectively particular coin-roll storing portionsin order to separate the kinds of coins, and in particular to acoin-roll storing machine adapted to store coin-roll therein, with thecoin-roll independently standing up in the vertical direction.

2. Background Art

For instance, as the coin-roll storing machine for storing coin-roll inrespectively particular coin-roll storing portions to separate the kindsof coins, those described in JP11-250314A and JP2006-85332A are known.The coin-roll storing machines respectively disclosed in the aboveJP11-250314A and JP2006-85332A include multiple stages of coin-rolldrawers each able to be independently drawn out, in the forwarddirection, by hand, from a housing (storing main body) of the coin-rollstoring machine. Each coin-roll drawer includes a plurality of coin-rollstoring portions, each for storing coin-roll, usually consisting offifty (50) coins, while putting them on the bottom face of the drawerhorizontally in the width (lateral) direction, or such that the axis ofeach coin-roll extends in the horizontal width direction.

However, there are problems as described below, in the aforementionedconventional coin-roll storing machine. For example, each coin-rollstoring portion of the conventional coin-roll storing machine isconfigured to store the coin-roll therein such that the axis of eachcoin-roll extends in the horizontal width direction. Thus, the dimensionin the width direction of the storing main body should be larger.Additionally, in the case where the coin-roll storing machine isprovided in combination with a coin change machine to be arranged in thelateral direction, i.e., in the case where the coin-roll storing machineis installed in a juxtaposition to the coin change machine, thedimension in the width direction of the entire body of a resultantchange supplement and management system, which is a combined body of thecoin-roll storing machine and the coin change machine, should be larger.Thus, it may be difficult to ensure an installation space for such achange supplement and control system.

This invention was made in light of the point above, and therefore it isan object thereof to provide a coin-roll storing machine which canreduce the dimension in the width direction and facilitate to ensure theinstallation space, as compared with those including a plurality ofcoin-roll storing portions each adapted to put the coin-roll on itsbottom face such that the axis of each coin-roll package extends in thehorizontal width direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin-rollstoring machine which can provide the same benefit as described above,as well as can judge each kind of the coin-roll stored in the pluralityof coin-roll storing portions in the respective coin-roll drawers, in ashorter time, thereby to facilitate management of the total amount ofmoney of the coin-roll.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a coin-roll storing machine, comprising: astoring main body; a coin-roll drawer which is provided such that it canbe drawn out relative to the storing main body, and having a pluralityof coin-roll storing portions, each for storing coin-roll with each axisof coin-roll being oriented in the vertical direction.

According to the coin-roll storing machine, the coin-roll can be storedwith the axis of the coin-roll being oriented in the vertical directionrelative to each coin-roll storing portion, as such the dimension in thewidth direction of the storing main body can be significantly reduced,as compared with the type of storing the coin-roll while putting them oneach coin-roll storing portion such that the axis of each coin-rollextends in the horizontal direction relative to the coin-roll storingportion. This can further facilitate to ensure the installation space ofthe coin-roll storing machine. Moreover, in the case where the coin-rollstoring machine is installed in a juxtaposition to a coin changemachine, the dimension in the width direction of a change supplement andmanagement system, i.e., the resultant combined body from the twomachines, can be further reduced.

In the coin-roll storing machine according to this invention, it ispreferred that the coin-roll drawer is configured such that it can bedrawn out, by hand, in the horizontally longitudinal direction, betweenits closed position and its drawn-out position, relative to the storingmain body. In this way, an operator can perform drawing out and pushingin operations of the coin-roll, more readily, relative to the coin-rollstoring machine.

In the coin-roll storing machine as described above, it is preferredthat the coin-roll storing machine further comprises: a displacementdetection means for detecting the displacement in the longitudinaldirection of the coin-roll drawer relative to the storing main body; acoin-roll diameter sensor including a light emitting unit and a lightreceiving unit respectively fixed to the coin-roll storing main body inpositions opposed to each other across an area through which thecoin-roll stored in the coin-roll drawer will pass during drawing outand pushing in the coin-roll drawer, the coin-roll diameter sensor beingadapted to output a signal corresponding to presence or absence ofshading due to the coin-roll; and a judgment means for judging thenumber and the kind of money of the coin-roll stored in each coin-rollstoring portion of the coin-roll drawer, based on the displacement inthe longitudinal direction of the coin-roll drawer to be detected by thedisplacement detection means as well as on the output of the coin-rolldiameter sensor.

According to the coin-roll storing machine described above, the judgmentmeans can judge the presence or absence and the kind of money of thecoin-roll stored in each coin-roll storing portion of the coin-rolldrawer, based on the displacement in the longitudinal direction of thecoin-roll drawer to be detected by the displacement detection means aswell as on the output of the coin-roll diameter sensor, when drawingout/pushing in the coin-roll drawer, by hand, relative to the storingmain body. In this case, the kind of money of the coin-roll can bejudged, on the basis of the diameter of the coin-roll, which is to beidentified based on the displacement in the longitudinal direction ofthe coin-roll drawer as well as on the output of the coin-roll diametersensor. Thus, by utilizing the longitudinal displacement of eachcoin-roll drawer, even though there is some change of speed when drawingout/pushing in the coin-roll drawer by hand, the diameter of thecoin-roll can be identified accurately without experiencing no negativeimpact due to such change.

Therefore, only by drawing out/pushing in the coin-roll drawer, by hand,each kind of money of the coin-roll stored in the plurality of coin-rollstoring portions can be judged accurately in a shorter time.Additionally, there is no need to provide an additional mechanism formoving the sensor at a constant speed, as conventional. Accordingly, theproduction cost for the coin-roll storing machine can be significantlyreduced. It is noted that the management of the total amount of thecoin-roll in the coin-roll storing machine can be carried out, inparticular, based on the judgment to be provided when pushing in thecoin-roll drawer.

In the coin-roll storing machine according to this invention, it ispreferred that each of the coin-roll storing portions of the coin-rolldrawer has an axis extending in the vertical direction and a cylindricalshape having a bottom face, the internal diameter of each coin-rollstoring portion being slightly larger than the outer diameter of thecoin-roll to be stored therein, and that a projection is selectivelyformed at the bottom face to extend vertically upward, depending onpresence or absence of a hole of the coin-roll to be stored therein.Thus, inadvertent storage of the coin-roll, having a larger diameter, inan unmatched coin-roll storing portion can be prevented. In addition, ifother kinds of coin-roll with no hole are inadvertently stored in thecoin-roll storing portion in which apertured coin-roll are to be stored,they can not be stored therein because of block due to the projectionagainst advance of such coin-roll. Therefore, such inadvertent storageof the coin-roll can be further prevented.

In the coin-roll storing machine according to this invention, it ispreferred that each of the coin-roll storing portions of the coin-rolldrawer has an axis extending in the vertical direction and a cylindricalshape having a bottom face, the internal diameter of each coin-rollstoring portion being slightly larger than the outer diameter of thecoin-roll to be stored therein, and that a circular opening is formed inthe bottom face to have an inner diameter slightly smaller than theouter diameter of the coin-roll to be stored therein. Thus, inadvertentstorage of the coin-roll having an improperly larger diameter into thecoin-roll storing portion with a smaller inner diameter can beprevented. Furthermore, if other coin-roll having a diameter quitesmaller than the inner diameter of the coin-roll storing portion isinadvertently inserted therein, it will fall downward through thecircular opening. Accordingly, inadvertent storage of such undulysmaller coin-roll in the coin-roll storing portion can also beprevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a coin-roll storingmachine according to the present invention, with the coin-roll storingmachine incorporated in a change supplement and management system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the coin-roll storing machine and acoin change machine in the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the coin-roll storingmachine in the system shown in FIG. 1, when viewed from below.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of displacement of one coin-roll drawer inthe coin-roll storing machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the drawershown in (a) a closed position, (b) a pushed-in position, (c) adetection start/end position, (d) a detection end/start position, and(e) a fully-drawn-out position, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing relationships between therespective coin-roll drawers and displacement detection means in thecoin-roll storing machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 shows cross sections illustrating the construction of thecoin-roll storing portion in the coin-roll storing machine shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, wherein FIG. 6(a) shows a construction of the coin-rollstoring portion adapted for one-yen coin-roll, ten-yen coin-roll,hundred-yen coin-roll, or five hundred-yen coin-roll, and FIG. 6(b)shows a construction of the coin-roll storing portion adapted forfive-yen coin-roll or fifty-yen coin-roll.

FIG. 7 is a cross section showing another construction of the coin-rollstoring portion in the coin-roll storing machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of the coin-rollstoring machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 8 are diagrams forillustrating one embodiment of a coin-roll (a roll of coins) storingmachine according to the present invention and a change supplement andmanagement system including the coin-roll storing machine.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a coin-roll storingmachine according to the present invention, with the coin-roll storingmachine incorporated in a change supplement and management system. FIG.2 is a perspective view showing the coin-roll storing machine and a coinchange machine in the system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspectiveview of a portion of the coin-roll storing machine in the system shownin FIG. 1, when viewed from below.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of displacement of one coin-roll drawer inthe coin-roll storing machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the drawershown in (a) a closed position, (b) a pushed-in position, (c) adetection start/end position, (d) a detection end/start position, and(e) a fully-drawn-out position, respectively. FIG. 5 is a side viewschematically showing relationships between the respective coin-rolldrawers and displacement detection means in the coin-roll storingmachine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 shows cross sections illustrating the construction of thecoin-roll storing portion in the coin-roll storing machine shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, wherein FIG. 6(a) shows a construction of the coin-rollstoring portion adapted for one-yen coin-roll, ten-yen coin-roll,hundred-yen coin-roll, or five hundred-yen coin-roll, and FIG. 6(b)shows a construction of the coin-roll storing portion adapted forfive-yen coin-roll or fifty-yen coin-roll. FIG. 7 is a cross sectionshowing another construction of the coin-roll storing portion in thecoin-roll storing machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of the coin-rollstoring machine shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Hereinafter, through reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a construction of thechange supplement and management system including the coin-roll storingmachine of this embodiment, a specific construction of the coin-rollstoring machine, a construction of the coin change machine in thesystem, and the operation and effect, and modifications of thisembodiment, will be described, in succession.

[Construction of the Change Supplement and Management System]

As shown in FIG. 1, the coin-roll storing machine 1 of this embodimentis combined with the coin change machine 3 and a POS resistor (point ofsales resistor) 5, so as to constitute the change supplement andmanagement system. As shown in FIG. 2, the coin-roll storing machine 1of this embodiment is integrally juxtaposed to the coin change machinein the lateral direction. Specifically, a storing main body 1 a of thecoin-roll storing machine 1 and a housing 3 a of the coin change machine3 are integrally formed relative to each other. The POS resistor 5 islocated in the vicinity of the coin change machine 3 and the coin-rollstoring machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coin-roll storing machine 1, coin change machine3 and POS resistor 5 have control units 16, 36 and 50, respectively.Among them, the control unit 16 of the coin-roll storing machine 1 isconnected in communication with the control unit 36 of the coin changemachine 3, and the control unit 36 of the coin change machine 3 is inturn connected in communication with the control unit 50 of the POSresistor 5.

[Construction of the Coin-Roll Storing Machine]

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coin-roll storing machine 1 includes thestoring main body 1 a, and three coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13,respectively attached to the storing main body 1 a, such that they canbe independently drawn out in the forward direction (the horizontallylongitudinal direction), by hand. These coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 arejuxtaposed relative to each other in the horizontally lateral direction.In the respective coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13, a plurality of coin-rollstoring portions 14 (FIG. 2), each adapted to store coin-roll B therein,are provided. The coin-roll B are stored in each coin-roll storingportion 14 to have such an attitude that each axis of the coin-roll B isoriented in the direction vertical to the drawing direction(horizontally longitudinal direction) of the coin-roll drawers 11, 12,13.

Specifically, for example, to the drawer 11 located on the most leftside in FIG. 2, eight (8) coin-roll storing portions 14 adapted forone-yen coin-roll, and two (2) coin-roll storing portions 14 forfive-yen coin-roll are provided. Besides, to the coin-roll drawer 2located in an intermediate position as shown in FIG. 2, eight (8)coin-roll storing portions 14 adapted for ten-yen coin-roll, and two (2)coin-roll storing portions 14 for fifty-yen coin-roll are provided.Additionally, to the coin-roll drawer 13 located on the most right sidein FIG. 2, eight (8) coin-roll storing portions 14 adapted forhundred-yen coin-roll, and two (2) coin-roll storing portions 14 forfive-hundred yen coin-roll are provided.

As a representative of the above three coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13, theconstruction of the respective coin-roll storing portions 14 provided tothe coin-roll drawer 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6(a)and 6(b). FIG. 6(a) shows the construction of the coin-roll storingportion 14 adapted for one-yen coin-roll, ten-yen coin-roll, hundred-yencoin-roll, or five hundred-yen coin-roll, and FIG. 6(b) shows theconstruction of the coin-roll storing portion 14 adapted for five-yencoin-roll or fifty-yen coin-roll.

As shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), each coin-roll storing portion 14 ofthe coin-roll drawer 11 has an axis extending in the vertical direction,and is of a cylindrical shape having a bottom face. The inner diameterof each coin-roll storing portion 14 is slightly larger than the outerdiameter of the corresponding coin-roll B to be stored therein. Thus,inadvertent storage of the coin-roll B having an improperly largediameter in an unmatched coin-roll storing portion 14 can be prevented.Further, as shown in FIG. 6(b), in each coin-roll storing portion 14 forstoring coin-roll B, for coins, each having a central hole, such as thefive-yen coins or fifty-yen coins, a projection 14 a is formed to extendvertically upward from the bottom face. In this manner, when storing thecoin-roll B consisting of five-yen coins or fifty-yen coins are storedin the coin-roll storing portion 14, the hole of each coin constitutingthe coin-roll B is fitted around the projection 14 a. Thus, because ofthe block against advance of the coin-roll B due to the projection 14 a,other kinds of coin-roll B consisting of coins with no holes can not bestored in the coin-roll storing portions 14 configured for the five-yencoins or fifty-yen coins. Therefore, such inadvertent storage of thecoin-roll B can be further prevented.

As another construction of each coin-roll storing portion 14 of thecoin-roll drawer 11, one as shown in FIG. 7 can be mentioned. Thecoin-roll storing portion 14 as shown in FIG. 7 has an inner diameterslightly larger than the outer diameter of the coin-roll B to be storedtherein. In addition, in the bottom face of the coin-roll storingportion 14, a circular opening 14 b is formed with an inner diameterslightly smaller than the outer diameter of the coin-roll B to be storedin the coin-roll storing portion 14. In this way, inadvertent storage ofthe coin-roll B having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of thecoin-roll storing portion 14 can be prevented. Furthermore, if othercoin-roll B having a diameter quite smaller than the inner diameter ofthe coin-roll storing portion 14 is stored therein, it will falldownward through the circular opening 14 b. Accordingly, inadvertentstorage of such smaller diameter coin-roll B in the coin-roll storingportion 14 can also be prevented.

As a still another construction of each coin-roll storing portion 14 ofthe coin-roll drawer 11, the coin-roll storing portion 14 having theprojection 14 a as shown in FIG. 6(b) may be used for five-yen coin-rollor fifty-yen coin-roll, while the other coin-roll storing portion 14having the circular opening 14 b as shown in FIG. 7 may be used forone-yen coin-roll, ten-yen coin-roll, hundred-yen coin-roll andfive-hundred-yen coin-roll.

The coin-roll storing machine 1 includes a detection system 18 (FIG. 1)for detecting a signal, for use in judging presence or absence ofcoin-roll B and the kind of the coins, for each coin-roll storingportion 14 of the coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13. The detection system 18is configured to judge the presence or absence of coin-roll B and thekind of the coins for each coin-roll storing portion 14, both in thecase where each of the coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 is pushed into thestoring main body 1 a and in the case where each of the pushed incoin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 is drawn out from the storing main body 1a.

The control unit 16 has a function as a judgment means for judging thepresence or absence and the kind of money of the coin-roll B stored ineach coin-roll storing portion 14 of the particular coin-roll drawer 11,12, 13, based on a signal outputted from the detection system 18.

As described herein, the coin-roll taken out from each coin-roll drawer11, 12, 13 of the coin-roll storing machine 1 will be referred to as“taken-out coin-roll”.

As shown in FIG. 3, the storing main body 1 a of the coin-roll storingmachine 1 includes a frame body F adapted to hold the respectivecoin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 such that they can individually slide inthe horizontally longitudinal direction. At a bottom portion of eachcoin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13, an optically transparent portion (notshown) is provided. Each optically transparent portion extends over arange, in which the plurality of coin-roll storing portions 14 in eachcoin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13 are provided, as well as, it extends up to apoint in the vicinity of a distal end of the coin-roll drawer distal tothe most forward coin-roll storing portion 14. As shown in FIGS. 3 and5, at the bottom face of each coin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13, a rack R isprovided, extending in the longitudinal direction.

In FIG. 4, various longitudinal positions are shown, on the basis of afront face panel 1 c (see FIG. 2) of the storing main body 1 a of thecoin-roll drawer 11, which is exemplified as a representative of theaforementioned three coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13.

Namely, FIG. 4 illustrates, respectively:

a position (a), which is a “closed position”, wherein the front face ofthe coin-roll drawer 11 is positioned to be flush with the front facepanel 1 c;

a position (b), which is a “pushed-in position”, wherein the coin-rolldrawer 11 is further pushed in from the closed position, and thus thefront face of the coin-roll drawer 11 is slightly retracted from thefront face panel 1 c;

a position (c), which is a “detection start/end position”, whereindetection due to the detection system 18 is started when drawing out thecoin-roll drawer 11, and the detection due to the detection system 18 isended when pushing in the coin-roll drawer 11;

a position (d), which is a “detection end/start position”, wherein thedetection due to the detection system 18 is ended when drawing out thecoin-roll drawer 11, and the detection due to the detection system 18 isstarted when pushing in the coin-roll drawer 11; and

a position (e), which is a “fully-drawn-out position”, wherein thecoin-roll drawer 11 is fully drawn out, such that the storage/taking outof the coin-roll B relative to all of the coin-roll storing portions 14(FIG. 2) of the coin-roll drawer 11 can be carried out.

As a typical example of the detection system 18 (FIG. 1), a coin-rolldiameter sensor S1, as will described below, is shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, at a front portion of the frame body F, onecoin-roll diameter sensor S1 and three coin-roll hole sensors S21, S22,S23 are provided. The coin-roll diameter sensor S1 comprises a lightemitting unit and a light receiving unit, respectively fixed to theframe F (storing main body 1 a) in the lateral direction, in positionsopposed to each other, with the coin-roll B interposed between them,wherein the coin-roll B are respectively stored in the three coin-rolldrawers 11, 12, 13, in each raised state. The coin-roll diameter sensorS1 is located such that its light axis passes through a position forwardto the most forward coin-roll storing portion 14 of each coin-rolldrawer 11, 12, 13 in the closed position (FIG. 4(a)) (see FIGS. 4 and5).

The coin-roll hole sensors S21, S22, S23 are provided, respectivelycorresponding to the coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13. Each coin-roll holesensor S21, S22, S23 comprises a light emitting unit and a lightreceiving unit, respectively fixed to the frame F (storing main body 1a), in positions opposed to each other in the vertical direction, witheach corresponding coin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13 interposed between them.Each coin-roll hole sensor S21, S22, S23 is located such that its lightaxis passes through the axis of the coin-roll B stored in eachcorresponding coin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13, such that they can be takenout and pushed in, while being in each raised state.

Additionally, on one side face near the bottom portion of the frame F, asingle two-phase rotary encoder E is provided. As shown in FIGS. 3 and5, the rotary encoder E has an input axis e1 extending in thehorizontally lateral direction. To the input axis e1, three pinions Prespectively corresponding to the coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 arefixed. The racks R of the coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 and thecorresponding pinions P are respectively arranged such that they can beengaged with each other at least when the coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13are in positions between the detection start/end position (FIG. 4(c))and the detection end/start position (FIG. 4(d)) (i.e., positions withina range necessary for judgment by a judging means between the closedportion (FIG. 4 (a)) and the fully-drawn-out position (FIG. 4 (e)),while not engaged with each other at least when the coin-roll drawers11, 12, 13 are in the respective closed positions.

Thus, the rotary encoder E may be configured to output pulse signals ofa number in proportion to the displacement in the longitudinal directionof each coin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13. Namely, the rotary encoder E, racksR and pinions P constitute together a displacement detection means fordetecting the displacement in the longitudinal direction of eachcoin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13 relative to the storing main body 1 a.

As shown in FIG. 8, the coin-roll diameter sensor S1, coin-roll holesensors S21, S22, S23 and rotary encoder E, which constitute togetherthe detection system 18, are respectively connected to the control unit16. Also, to the control unit 16, a memory (storage means) M and acommunication interface T are connected. In the memory M, relationshipsbetween positions of the respective coin-roll storing portions 14 andthe kinds of coin-roll B to be stored in the respective coin-rollstoring portions 14, in all of the coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13, areinputted in advance. The communication interface T is adapted to connectthe control unit 36 of the coin change machine 3 (FIG. 1) incommunication with the control unit 16.

The control unit 16 has a function as a judgment means for judgingpresence or absence and the kind of money of the coin-roll B stored inthe respective coin-roll storing portions 14 of each coin-roll drawer,based on the displacement in the longitudinal direction of either one ofthe coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 to be identified from the output of therotary encoder E as well as on the respective outputs from the coin-rolldiameter sensor S1 and coin-roll hole sensors S21, S22, S23.

Specifically, when drawing out one of the coin-roll drawers by hand fromthe storing main body 1 a, or when pushing it into the storing main body1 a by hand, the rotary encoder E, coin-roll diameter sensor S1 andcoin-roll hole sensor S21, S22, S23 corresponding to the respectivecoin-roll drawer, output pulse signals, respectively. Of these outputsignals, by using the pulse signal of the rotary encoder E, thedisplacement, in the longitudinal direction relative to the storing mainbody 1 a, of each coin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13 is identified, as such thedisplacement in the longitudinal direction relative to the respectivecoin-roll sensors S1; S21, S22, S23 of the coin-roll storing portions 14can be identified. Further, by using the pulse signals of the respectivecoin-roll sensors S1; S21, S22, S23, transition of lighttransmission/shading (presence or absence of shading) due to the radialouter periphery and inner periphery of the respective coin-roll B (oronly the outer periphery in the cases of coins other than the five-yencoins and fifty-yen coins) can be identified.

Consequently, not only the presence or absence of the coin-roll B butalso the diameter and presence or absence of the central hole of thecoin-roll B stored can be identified for each coin-roll storing portion14 of the coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13. Based on the identification, thecontrol unit 16 can judge whether the kind of coin-roll B present in acertain coin-roll storing portion 14 is adequate or not to be storedtherein.

[Construction of the Coin Change Machine]

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coin change machine 3 includes a slot 30provided in a front portion of the housing 3 a, a delivery port 34, anda display and operation panel 3 b (FIG. 2). Further, as shown in FIG. 1,the coin change machine 3 includes an identification means 31, aselection means 32 and a coin storing portion 33 in which respectivecoins are classified for their kinds. The identification means 31 isconfigured to identify the kinds and the number of loose coins to be putinto the slot 30. The selection means 32 is configured to sort the loosecoins, having been identified, by the identification means 31, for eachkind of money. The coin storing portion 33 is configured to store theloose coins, having been sorted by the selection means 32, therein,while classifying them for the respective kinds.

The coin change machine 3 is configured to feed the loose coins storedin the coin storing portion 33 into the delivery port 34, depending onthe need for delivering the change or the like. As the loose coins to beput into the slot 30, in addition to coins (typically, loose coins to beobtained by removing wrapping for taken-out coin-roll) supplemented asthose used for changes, coins received from customers are also included.However, it is not critical to discriminate them, but instead, they maybe stored together in the coin storing portion 33 so as to be utilizedas changes.

To the control unit 36 of the coin change machine 3, judgment results istransmitted from the control unit 16 of the coin-rolltoring machine 1.The control unit 36 has a function for comparing the kind and the numberof loose coins identified by the identification means 31 with the kindand the number of taken-out coin-roll based on the judgment resultsreceived, as well as for managing the correspondence between the both.

The judgment results are also transmitted to the control unit 50 of thePOS resistor 5, from the control unit 16 of the coin-roll storingmachine 1, via the control unit 36 of the coin change machine 3.

If the kind and the number of the loose coins does not correspond to thekind and the number of the taken-out coin-roll (i.e., if the coins arethe same kind, but the total number of the loose coins is notcoincidence with the total number of the taken-out coin-roll to becalculated by multiplying the number of coins (usually fifty) perpackage of the coin-roll by the number of packages of the coin-roll),some address, such as flagging to a log data of the change supplementand management system, will be taken. Consequently, the correspondencebetween the taken-out coin-roll and the loose coins supplemented aschanges can be managed accurately. Instead of using the control unit 36of the coin change machine 3, a function for managing such acorrespondence may be provided to the control unit 50 of the POSresistor 5.

It should be appreciated that the coin-roll B to be stored in thecoin-roll storing machine 1 are not limited to those wrapped into apackage consisting of fifty NIPPON-yen coins, but may be those wrappedinto a package consisting of a predetermined number of coins other thanthe NIPPON-yen coins, for example, U.S. or Euro coins. Specifically,with respect to a package of coin-roll consisting of U.S. coins, forexample, a one-cent coin-roll package consists of fifty one-cent coins,a five-cent coin-roll package consists of forty five-cent coins, aten-cent coin-roll package consists of fifty ten-cent coins, atwenty-five-cent coin-roll package consists of forty twenty-five-centcoins, a fifty-cent coin-roll package consists of twenty fifty-centcoins, and one-dollar coin-roll package consists of twenty one-dollarcoins.

With respect to the Euro coins, for example, a one-cent coin-rollpackage consists of fifty one-cent coins, a two-sent coin-roll packageconsists of fifty two-cent coins, a five-cent coin-roll package consistsof fifty five-cent coins, a ten-cent coin-roll package consists of fortyten-cent coins, a twenty-cent coin-roll package consists of fortytwenty-cent coins, a fifty-cent coin-roll package consists of twentyfifty-cent coins, a one euro coin-roll package consists of twenty-fiveone-euro coins, and a two-euro coin-roll package consists of twenty-fivetwo-euro coins.

In the case where the coin-roll to be stored in the coin-roll storingmachine 1 are coins other than Nippon-yen coins, such as U.S. or Eurocoins, information concerning the number of coins per coin-roll packageof such U.S. or Euro coins, for each kind of money, is inputted inadvance to the memory M of the control unit 16. In this way, whencalculating the total amount of the coin-roll B stored in the coin-rollstoring machine 1 by using the control unit 16 of the coin-roll storingmachine 1 and/or by using control unit 50 of the POS resistor 5, withconsideration as to information concerning the kinds and the number ofcoin-roll B to be obtained and calculated by the control unit 16 of thecoin-roll storing machine 1, as well as concerning the number of coinsper coin-roll package, for each kind of money, of each country, storedin the memory M, the total amount of coin-roll B stored in the coin-rollstoring machine 1 can be automatically calculated.

[Operation and Effect]

Next, the operation and effect of the coin-roll storing machine of thisembodiment constructed as described above will be discussed.

According to the coin-roll storing machine 1 of this embodiment, thecoin-roll B can be stored in each coin-roll storing portion 14, whileorienting each axis of the coin-roll B to be vertical to the coin-rollstoring portion 14. Thus, the dimension in the width direction of thestoring main body 1 a can be significantly reduced, as compared with thetype of storing the coin-roll B in each coin-roll storing portion 14,while putting them on the bottom face in the horizontal direction. Thiscan facilitate to ensure an installation space for the coin-roll storingmachine 1. In addition, in the case where the coin-roll storing machine1 is arranged in a juxtaposition to the coin change machine 3 as shownin FIG. 2, the dimension in the width direction of the entire body ofthe resultant supplement and management system can also be reduced.

According to the coin-roll storing machine 1 of this embodiment, whendrawing out or pushing in the particular coin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13relative to the storing main body 1 a, based on the longitudinaldisplacement of each coin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13 to be identified fromthe output of the rotary encoder E as the displacement detection meansas well as on each output of the coin-roll diameter sensor S1 andcoin-roll hole sensors S21, S22, S23 depending on the presence orabsence of shading due to the coin-roll B, the control unit 16 as thejudgment means judges the presence or absence and the kind of money ofthe coin-roll B stored in each coin-roll storing portion 14 of thecoin-roll drawer. In this case, the kind of money of the coin-roll B canbe judged, on the basis of the diameter of the coin-roll B to beidentified based on the longitudinal displacement of each coin-rolldrawer 11, 12, 13 and the output of the coin-roll diameter sensor S1, aswell as on the basis of the presence or absence of the central hole ofthe coin-roll B to be identified based on the output of each coin-rollhole sensor S21, S22, S23. Thus, by utilizing the longitudinaldisplacement of each coin-roll drawer 11, 12, 13, even though there issome change of speed during drawing out/pushing in the coin-roll drawerby hand, the diameter of the coin-roll B can be identified accuratelywithout experiencing no negative impact due to such change.

Therefore, only by pushing in the particular coin-roll drawer 11, 12,13, by hand, the kind of money of the coin-roll B stored in theplurality of coin-roll storing portions 14 of each coin-roll drawer canbe judged accurately in a shorter time, thereby to grasp the totalamount of the money. Additionally, there is no need to provide amechanism for moving the sensor at a constant speed as conventional.Accordingly, the production cost for the coin-roll storing machine canbe significantly reduced. Furthermore, the longitudinal displacement ofthe plurality of coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 can be detectedrespectively by using the single rotary encoder E. Therefore, theproduction cost of the displacement detection means can also be reduced,leading to further reduction of the production cost of the coin-rollstoring machine.

[Modifications]

It should be appreciated that the coin-roll storing machine 1 of thisembodiment is not limited to the aspect described above, but variousmodifications may be added thereto.

For example, in the aspect described above, while the case wherein thecontrol unit 16 of the coin-roll storing machine 1 has the function asthe judgment means has been discussed, the control unit 36 of the coinchange machine 3 or the control unit 50 of the POS resistor 5 mayinstead be configured to have a function as such a judgment means.

While the case wherein each pinion P is fixed to the input axis e1 ofthe rotary encoder E has been described, each pinion P may not be fixedto the input axis e1, provided that it can be rotated together with theinput axis e1. For example, another gear or axis may be provided betweeneach pinion P and the input axis e1.

Additionally, the coin-roll hole sensors S21, S22, S23 may be omitted,in the case where apertured coins are not included in the coin-roll B tobe stored, and/or in the case where the difference of the diameter issufficiently large between the respective kinds of coin-roll B, as suchthe judgment of the kind of money can be performed enough only by usingthe output of the coin-roll diameter sensor S1.

The coin-roll drawers 11, 12, 13 may be constructed with respectivelyseparated units so as to be detachable from the storing main body 1 aand/or from other coin-roll drawers. In such a case, a further drawerunit may be added to the coin-roll storing machine 1 which includes thethree coin-roll drawers as shown in FIG. 2, or otherwise, the unit ofthe coin-roll drawer 13, for example, may be removed as needed.

1. A coin-roll storing machine, comprising: a storing main body; and acoin-roll drawer which is provided such that it can be drawn outrelative to the storing main body, and having a plurality of coin-rollstoring portions, each for storing coin-roll with each axis of coin-rollbeing oriented in the vertical direction.
 2. The coin-roll storingmachine according to claim 1, wherein the coin-roll drawer is configuredsuch that it can be drawn out, by hand, in the horizontally longitudinaldirection, between its closed position and its drawn-out position,relative to the storing main body.
 3. The coin-roll storing machineaccording to claim 2, further comprising: a displacement detection meansfor detecting the displacement in the longitudinal direction of thecoin-roll drawer relative to the storing main body; a coin-roll diametersensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unitrespectively fixed to the coin-roll storing main body in positionsopposed to each other across an area through which the coin-roll storedin the coin-roll drawer will pass, during drawing out and pushing in thecoin-roll drawer, the coin-roll diameter sensor being adapted to outputa signal corresponding to presence or absence of shading due to thecoin-roll; and a judgment means for judging the number and the kind ofmoney of the coin-roll stored in each coin-roll storing portion of thecoin-roll drawer, based on the displacement in the longitudinaldirection of the coin-roll drawer to be detected by the displacementdetection means as well as on the output of the coin-roll diametersensor.
 4. The coin-roll storing machine according to claim 1, whereineach of the coin-roll storing portions of the coin-roll drawer has anaxis extending in the vertical direction and a cylindrical shape havinga bottom face, the internal diameter of each coin-roll storing portionbeing slightly larger than the outer diameter of the coin-roll to bestored therein, and wherein a projection is selectively formed at thebottom face to extend vertically upward, depending on presence orabsence of a hole of the coin-roll to be stored therein.
 5. Thecoin-roll storing machine according to claim 1, wherein each of thecoin-roll storing portions of the coin-roll drawer has an axis extendingin the vertical direction and a cylindrical shape having a bottom face,the internal diameter of each coin-roll storing portion being slightlylarger than the outer diameter of the coin-roll to be stored therein,and wherein a circular opening is formed in the bottom face to have aninner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the coin-rollto be stored therein.